Blue Chip Conference 2025-2026 Basketball Preseason Ranking

The Blue Chip Conference in Southwest Indiana is made up of nine schools as far south as Wood Memorial and north to Shoals, Vincennes Rivet, and North Knox. The rich history of the conference comes from Loogootee and Barr-Reeve. One of them have won atleast a share of the conference for the eighteen years including three state champions with Loogootee winning in 2012 and Barr-Reeve winning state in 2015 and 2021. Will Barr-Reeve and Loogootee continue their dominance of the conference or will another school step in and dethrone them? Below is a preseason team ranking for the Blue Chip Conference + preseason All-Conference team:   1st: Barr-Reeve Vikings   The Barr-Reeve Vikings have been the class of the Blue Chip Conference and I don't see that changing this season. The Vikings return a core group from last seasons 17-7 team for new head coach Heath Howington coming from Evansville Memorial. The Vikings lose three of their top four scorers to graduation but return Junior Guard Kierson Lengacher, who averaged 11.9 points per game as a sophomore in conference play. Also expected to make a big jump in production the sophomore duo of point guard Jaylon Graber and wing [player_tooltip player_id='2797665' first='Braxton' last='Neidigh']. Graber is a steady at the guard spot that plays at his own pace. Neidigh is a skilled wing with untapped potential as he keeps growing into his body. Not only will Barr-Reeve be the favorite in the conference but will be on the short list as one of the better 1A teams in the southern half of the state. High expectations are the norm for the Barr-Reeve Vikings.   Conference Record Prediction: 7-1   2nd: Northeast Dubois Jeeps   Coming off a Sectional 64 Championship, the Northeast Dubois Jeeps under third year head coach Travis Schroering look to be right back in the regional picture after a 16-10 season a year ago. Returning leading scorer in conference last season in 6'1” Senior Guard Adam Dooley. Dooley aaveraged 12.1 points as junior in conference play. Also returning is 6'2” Senior Guard Tryp Verkamp and 6'4” Junior Guard Eli Schroering. Both of which should make significant jumps on production and have Northeast Dubois right there as potential Sectional 64 Favorites.   Conference Record Prediction: 7-1   3rd: Wood Memorial Trojans   Of all the teams in the Blue Chip Conference, you can argue that the Trojans bring back the most production of any team. Bringing back the trio of seniors that were all-conference performers last season in 6'2” Guard [player_tooltip player_id='2625553' first='Houston' last='Schoonover'] (20.5 ppg in conference), 6'5” Forward [player_tooltip player_id='2625556' first='Parker' last='Conder'] (17.5 ppg in conference), and 6'0” Guard [player_tooltip player_id='2997398' first='Chad' last='E. Sullivan'] (9.9 ppg in conference). The question marks are what the supporting cast for the Trojans will bring to the table. Conference Record Prediction: 7-1   4th: Loogootee Lions   Head Coach Josh Thompson makes his way to Loogootee after 7 seasons at Barr-Reeve. The Lions return their backcourt from last season's 13-11. Returning is second leading vote getter in the Blue Chip Conference in 6'2” Senior Guard [player_tooltip player_id='1560987' first='AJ' last='Foster'] coming off a conference season last year averaging 19.8 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 2.8 assists per game. [player_tooltip player_id='2617855' first='Cooper' last='VanHoy'], a 5'10” Sophomore Guard that played in every game as a freshman is back looking to expand his role. He's a smooth guard that is confident shooting the ball from deep. Junior Guard Will Lyon also returns giving Coach Thompson and the Lions three solid options to lead them throughout the season.   Conference Record Prediction: 5-3   5th: Vincennes Rivet Patriots   There have been some growing pains throughout the previous nine season Fri Head Coach Mark Bezy and the Rivet Patriots, but they have a chance to make some noise within the conference this season with 6'5” Senior All-Conference nominee [player_tooltip player_id='2575590' first='Wallace' last='Kiteka'] returning after averaging double figures for the Patriots. Junior Jayden Thacker also returns along with a promising freshman trio of Brady Stearns, Phillip Herman, and Cale Bezy.   Conference Record Prediction: 4-4   6th: South Knox Spartans   The Spartans had a tough time of it last season with the injury bug losing 6'6” Senior Sam Singleton last year. South Knox managed to finish 10-14 under second year head coach Jim Farris. The Spartans return 5'11” Senior Guard Kaiden Grumieaux who averaged 10.1 points along with 3.8 assists in conference play last season.   Conference Record Prediction: 3-5   7th: North Knox Warriors   North loses graduated 26 points per game in seniors 5'11” Guard Braxton Yenne and 6'5” Forward Cole Kerns from a 7-16 season under first year head coach Josh Adams. The Warriors return 5'6” Senior Guard [player_tooltip player_id='1560985' first='Kyson' last='Parker'] and 6'4” Junior Forward Will Trabant who are expected to make big jumps in production along with along with three other sophomores and three juniors with varsity experience returning.   Conference Recors Prediction: 2-6   8th: Shoals Jug Rox   J.D. Turpin takes over a Shoals program that's coming off a 5-19 2024-2025 campaign and losing all-conference nominee Ralph Holman to graduation who averaged 12 points, 2.6 rebounds, and 2 assists for the game. Unsure what the Jug Rox have returning due to no roster/stats on MaxPreps.   Conference Record Prediction: 1-7   9th: Washington Catholic Cardinals   It's been a tough go for the once proud program of Washington Catholic. First year head coach Peyton Catt inherits a program currently on a 22-game losing streak. A bright spot is Freshman Guard Brody Voges returning after averaging 3.8 points per game as an all-conference nominee.   Conference Record Prediction: 0-8   Preseason All-Conference Team:   • [player_tooltip player_id='2625553' first='Houston' last='Schoonover'] - Wood Memorial (Preseason Player of the Year)   • [player_tooltip player_id='2625556' first='Parker' last='Conder'] - Wood Memorial   • Adam Dooley - Northeast Dubois   • [player_tooltip player_id='1560987' first='AJ' last='Foster'] - Loogootee   • [player_tooltip player_id='2575590' first='Wallace' last='Kiteka'] - Vincennes Rivet   • Kierson Lengacher - Barr-Reeve   • [player_tooltip player_id='2797665' first='Braxton' last='Neidigh'] - Barr-Reeve   • [player_tooltip player_id='2997398' first='Chad' last='E. Sullivan'] - Wood Memorial

The Blue Chip Conference in Southwest Indiana is made up of nine schools as far south as Wood Memorial and north to Shoals, Vincennes Rivet, and North Knox. The rich history of the conference comes from Loogootee and Barr-Reeve. One of them have won atleast a share of the conference for the eighteen years including three state champions with Loogootee winning in 2012 and Barr-Reeve winning state in 2015 and 2021. Will Barr-Reeve and Loogootee continue their dominance of the conference or will another school step in and dethrone them? Below is a preseason team ranking for the Blue Chip Conference + preseason All-Conference team: